To commemorate the International Women’s Day, the British Deputy High Commission, Karachi in collaboration with CIRCLE Women Association and Zindagi Trust, launched the initiative of “Girls Take Charge” keeping in line with this year’s theme of #Balanceforbetter.

This initiative will allow girls from Zindagi Trust’s government schools and CIRCLE’s innovative Tech Karo program to shadow the British Deputy High Commissioner, Elin Burns along with CEOs from leading companies like Acumen, Planet N, Standard Chartered, SEEDS Ventures, CIRCLE and Unilever for a day. The girls will create video clips explaining what they would change if they were in a leadership position, and participate in a leadership masterclass at the British Deputy High Commission as well.

“The initiative aims to give girls access to role models and the chance to experience leadership firsthand, which is a fantastic way to develop the talent of the future. I’m looking forward to meeting some brilliant young women and hearing their views on leadership and aspirations for the future.” Says Elin Burns, British Deputy High Commissioner

8th March, International Women’s Day brings together women and their allies from across the globe in order to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women. It also provides an opportunity for nations and societies to reflect on areas where they need to support women, and help them gain an equal chance to practice their rights and freedoms, while developing their strengths.

With 62% of female graduates in Pakistan not entering the workforce, CIRCLE a social enterprise is focused on women’s economic empowerment and leadership development, based on the belief that investing in women is the smartest economic venture of today. CIRCLE Founder, Sadaffe Abid is former COO & CEO of Kashf Foundation, one of Pakistan’s leading microfinance organizations. Sadaffe said on this occasion, “Women and girls are the most underutilized potential of our country. For Pakistan’s prosperity we must invest in them. I am delighted to be part of this forward-looking initiative for young women.” CIRCLE mobilizes CEOs and leaders to commit to gender diversity under its flagship initiative, Elevate and upskills youth especially young women with technology, life skills and mentorship through the Tech Karo Program.

Zindagi Trust is a non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of education available to the average Pakistani. The trust works on reforming public schools in Pakistan through a combination of pilot projects of model schools and advocacy. Our adopted government schools in Karachi, namely SMB Fatima Jinnah Government Girls School and Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government School, have been transformed into vibrant centres of learning through a combination of infrastructural development, administrative upheaval, academic reforms, student development, and teacher development. “At Zindagi Trust we believe in providing our students with a holistic education that allows them to explore a variety of possibilities for their future. I’m certain that Girls Take Charge will prove to be a meaningful platform for our students as they learn first-hand how to develop themselves into effective leaders for whichever field they should choose to take up in life” says Zara Hasnain, Manager of Programs at Zindagi Trust.